Nicola Whitmore says the Simple app helped her lose weight and boost her confidence after major spinal surgery
Laura McKenna Audience Writer, Rachael Davies and Rachael Davis
04:33, 12 Sep 2026
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Nicola says she has been able to drop two dress sizes since January (Image: Simple)
Walking has become an increasingly popular way to get more movement into everyday life, but for one 55-year-old woman, taking more steps has played a major role in her remarkable fitness transformation. Nicola Whitmore, from Buckinghamshire, was once reliant on a wheelchair but can now complete full press-ups after making exercise part of her daily routine following major spinal surgery.
Nicola discovered the walking trend through Simple, a weight loss and wellness app that creates personalised plans designed to help users build healthier habits around food and movement. She started using the app after undergoing major back surgery in August last year, which left her with a titanium disc and rods supporting two vertebrae.
“Prior to that operation, I was in a wheelchair for some of the time, which meant that I had put weight on,” Nicola explained. “Obviously being 55, menopausal and not being able to do much physically, it got to the point where I was really struggling to do yoga and things like that.
“There were things that I just couldn’t do. I was still swimming and I was still trying to be active, but the weight did go on. Also, when you’re in a lot of pain all of the time, it’s easy to comfort eat and I found that chocolate and treats and all those sorts of things just helped to make me feel better.”
Following her operation, Nicola saw an opportunity to transform her lifestyle. Through physiotherapy, she slowly rebuilt her mobility and began walking once more, though high-impact workouts remained off-limits.
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“I’d lost half a stone by sort of January time and I tried everything I could do to lose a bit more weight, but I just stubbornly sat around 140 pounds,” reports the Mirror.
“I wanted to get to about 130 pounds and there were items in my wardrobe that I could no longer fit into. There were items in my wardrobe that I thought I’d never ever fit into again.
Nicole used the Simple app for her health and fitness journey.(Image: Simple)
“I’d done keto in the past and didn’t really want to go down the keto route because I like my fruit and vegetables too much and I really missed those, so I felt as if it would be better if I just tried to exercise more.”
While browsing the internet, Nicola discovered Tai Chi walking – a contemplative approach to movement involving slow, deliberate steps and learning to shift your weight completely from one leg to another – which eventually introduced her to Simple, a weight loss and fitness application. “Little did I know that this would be a real amazing life-transforming moment for me,” she said.
Right now, shoppers can use the promotional code REACH to save 80% on Simple weight loss programmes. Those who subscribe can also extend Simple Premium access to one additional person without extra charge.
Nicola continued: “I can’t do high-impact stuff because of my surgery, but the Tai Chi walking that’s in it, the walking every day, is ideal for me. Life’s busy. I don’t have time to go to the gym and I’ve done that, tried that, but it didn’t really work. I’m not really a gym bunny, so I wanted to do something that I could fit around my lifestyle.
“I started off doing the 10 minutes a day, just doing the little gentle walking and things like this and didn’t really think much of it. I thought, ‘How’s this going to make a difference?’ But I thought, ‘No, I’m going to trust the process and see where it takes me.'”
Nicola now weighs 123lbs and says she has dropped around two dress sizes.(Image: Simple)
Nicola began using Simple on 1 May, weighing 140lbs, and also adopted its intermittent fasting recommendations, having previously described herself as a “grazer”. She said: “For the first few days or so, I really struggled with the fasting because I was a grazer before. I used to eat little and often and I’d be constantly snacking.
“I really found it helpful in the early days, all the little tips and the mindfulness. It talks about just taking it a day at a time, because it’s rewiring your brain to think about food in a different way. I really enjoy my meals. I only have two meals a day, I have healthy snacks in mid-afternoon and I tend to fast for 16 to 18 hours a day. It works for me.”
By 18 June, Nicola says she had reached her initial goal of 130lbs. “I thought, ‘Yay, excellent’, but I thought, ‘No, this is now easy and I’m enjoying it’, and I was noticing changes in my body,” she said.
“I felt stronger. I was getting more definition in my arms and my legs were becoming toned, my tummy was becoming toned. I was incorporating other exercises after my Tai Chi walking, my daily power walks and things. I was doing some sit-ups, crunchy-type things and planks.”
Nicola says she’s now capable of completing five or six full press-ups – something she never imagined possible given her previous health challenges. She said: “I’ve literally gone from no muscle tone, having been, as I say, in a wheelchair, to now being able to do all of these exercises.” Nicola currently weighs 123lbs and has shed approximately two dress sizes.
Nicole has reached her target weight.(Image: Simple)
Simple focuses on transforming daily routines rather than tracking calories, eliminating vital food groups or measuring every morsel. The platform begins with users completing a questionnaire before receiving a tailored programme, featuring tools such as food tracking via text, voice or images, an intermittent fasting monitor and daily exercise routines.
The app offers various workout options including walking, yoga, Pilates, HIIT and Tai Chi, while its NutriScanner helps users grasp the nutritional value of their meals. Additionally, there’s Avo, an artificial intelligence wellness companion that can suggest recipes, snacks and workouts tailored to individual requirements and tastes.
For those seeking alternatives, Noom provides a weight loss platform centred on mindful eating rather than restrictive diets. The service delivers extensive support to users and strives to develop engaging, tailored programmes – with costs varying according to the chosen plan and individual requirements.
Another option is MyFitnessPal, a calorie tracking tool and BMI calculator created to assist users in achieving their goals and monitoring their nutritional consumption, priced at approximately £19.99 monthly, though certain features are accessible free of charge.
Users of Simple have shared their feedback on Trustpilot, with one reviewer commenting: “This app is one of the easiest ones to see if your food is on target without counting calories. It also reminds you when your eating window that you chose starts and ends. Must say it’s worth picking a coach. Really positive experience and gives you ideas how to tweak what you eat to make it better for a balanced meal.”
Another user detailed their progress, stating: “Absolutely amazing app. I have lost over one stone using this. There is always help at hand when I had my struggles. The app is very easy to use. Love it!”.
One reviewer highlighted areas for improvement: “Honestly a super supportive app that doesn’t make me feel bad if I miss a day or something. I do wish it had more options for drinks (lemonade for example is hard to track accurately) or an option to write in a drink or activities. Otherwise it’s great.”
On the whole, most users were highly satisfied. For instance, one reviewer commented: “Results are key in my 5-star review. The excellent customer service is a huge plus, and the intuitive, interactive interface actively encourages users to try harder, without shaming. A few tweaks to customisation (diet options, exercise editing) will given an even richer experience! Thank you Simple!”